BLOW THE FLAKE

Myofunktional Exercise  Collect ion

Application:

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This exercise is used for a fine motor air stream control of the pharyngeal closure via nasal cavity and 

to strengthen the m. Orbicularis..(Anatomie Areal I,4,5, Seite)

Contents:

Fine motor blow exercise.

Materials:

Cherry sized cotton wool fluff (flake) on a thin thread of forearm length.

Procedure:

- Previous exercises: BLOW THE BALL may be used as pre-exercise; the here discussed exercise, then, would mean an intensification for the motion coordination and air stream direction and dosage. As a direct pre-exercise for a proper starting position the CHERRY MOUTH is most recommendable.

-Starting position: The patient directs his face towards the ceiling forming his lips to show the CHERRY MOUTH.

- Step-by-step-description:

-1 At first the therapist and later on the patient himself will hold the thread with the outstretched arm in a way that the fluff is hanging directly over his mouth.

-2 Then the fluff is blown at with a fine sharp air stream to make it rise and to keep it floating on the point as long as possible.

-Timing: The span of the sequence depends on the air volume of the lungs. Several sequences may be added up.

Characteristics:

Motivation, coordination, fine motor skill.

Remarks:

As with all blow games dizziness feeling may occur through the hyperventilation, the patient breathing so fast that a hyperoxygenation in the blood is resulting and leading to vertigo and indisposition.

It should be minded not to let air stream through the nose. (See chapter BLOW THE BALL paragraph “Remarks”).

Discussion:

As mentioned this exercise resembles the BLOW THE BALL which, in contrary, is carried out with a strong stream of air. The here discussed exercise needs a fine aimed stream as it is also formed by the lips when whistling. In a comparison to the ,P-P-P’-EXERCISE the musculature in the here discussed exercise is rather tensed in a static way as in ,P-P-P’ a rapid change of air stream and lip closure is requested.

Comparing the tension of the cheeks in the two cited exercises shows that this is faintest in

BLOW THE BALL. BLOW THE FLAKE needs a higher, ,P-P-P’ some surplus tension increase which should be minded during the practicing of the exercises. (The velum closure has been mentioned which is relevant all three exercises referred to.)

Literature describes as a variation the exercise BLOW-OUT-CANDLES:.

The trick with it is NOT to blow out the flame but to fine dose the air stream in a kind that it only drifts the flame about without extinguishing it. Coordination and muscle tension are here comparatively raised. Therefore, in these cases, as loosening exercises BLOW THE BALL or else BABBLE could be used.

Instructions:

The little cotton wool fluff is held – as we practiced it – held on a thin thread over the mouth. Then you must hit it precisely with the air whistling out through your lips to blow it up and to blow it and blow to keep it up there always at the same spot. If possible it should not swing to one side or the other. It surely can’t as it is tied fast. But it should neither swing left nor right.

From time to time you might take a pause to breathe in again.

Practice as long as we came about.